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(NdModel.) Y 3 Sheets-Sheet l.. J. B. BLAR. ELECTRIC RALWAY.

Patented Mar. 12, 1889l 1.. v 1 y E 1. i.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J B BLAIR ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

Patented Mar. 12, 1889.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. B. BLAR.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

No. 399,236. Patented Mar. l2, 1889..

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NITED STATES .l()l'I,\1 Il. BLAIR, Uli (`IIl(A(l(), ILLINOIS, ASSIHNOR. 'IU IIIIHICIQI" ANI) IILRIC llilCl(ICNSIHCRVFER, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

SPCFICATION forming part cf Let-ters Patent No. 399,236, dated March 12, 1889.

Application filed November 19, 1887. Serial No. 255,582. (No model.)

,To (LZ2 107mm t may concern..- the objectionable features heretofore found lle it known that l, JOHN B. BLAIR, rcsidin constructing electrical railways on the old ing at Chicago, in the county oi' Cook and plan, and this is accomplished by providing' State of Illinois, and a citizen of the United electro-magnetic devices located along' the 5 States, have invented a new and useful lintrack at the required distance apart to coin- 55 proveinent in Electric Railways, of which the eide with the length of the moving' car or niofollowing is a specification, reference being tor-car, with which device a series of axiallyhad to the accompanying'drawings,in which moving' holts are combined, having' the re- Figure l is a sectional elevation showing quired range otl movement to project above 1o the car upon the track with the contact-bolts the road-hed or track a sufficient height to 6o out of circuit. Fig'. 2 is a similar View with come in contact with the conductor suspended the contact-bolts in circuit. Fig. 3 is asecalong the car-bottoni, and forni an electrical tional side elevation with the parts as in Fig'. circuit which remains closed during the pas- 2. Fig. l is a detail in section showin g' ansage of the car, after which the contact-bolt other t'orin ol conductor attached to the car. lfalls to its normal position out ot contact un- 65 Fig. is a detail in section showing' an artil again projected by the action of the inorrangenient of the contact-springs and moving' car, so that when the bolt is out of coning pin therefor. Fig'. Il is a detail in section tact and in its normal position the circuit showing the contact-pin and two helices or from the main conductor is broken, and no 2o coils. Fig. T is a detail in section showing a injurious results will be had hy Contact with 7o magnet and armature-bar for operating the the holt. contact-bolts. Fig'. 8 is a detail showing a The nature of the invention consist-s in the contact-holt made partljv of soft. iron and several parts and combinations of parts hereinpartlyT o'l brass with a brush end. Fig. .fl is a after described, and pointed out in the claims, :z5 detail in section showing the moving' pin for as new for obtaining the objects sought. 7

the contact-springs in the tread of the rail In the drawings, A represents the. inainwire instead of in the ilange. Fig'. l0 is a detail or conductor, which can he inclosed in a casshowing a moving' pin for the contact-springs ing' of gas-pipe or other suitable conduit, and in the center of the track and operated by an insulated in any usual and well-known inanqo independent wheel attached to the car. Fig. ner, and A is a return-wire in the arrange- 8o 1l is a section of the track, showing the slidnient shown, also incased in a gas-pipe or ing' pin in the rail. Fig'. 12 is a section of the other conduit.

track, showing the sliding' pin in the interme- B are helices or coils of the usual. construcdiatc rail. Fig: 13 is a detail showing the tion, and connected with the conductor A by 35 moving pin carried hy an elongated arm. a wire, o, and Il' is a helix or coil similar to S5 Heretolore the practice has heen to use ll, connected with the return wire or coneither an overhead wire or wires or a slotted duct-or A hy a wire, n. underground conduit, in which the wire or (l is a spring'having` at its outer or free end wires are placed for an electrical connection a contact-block or armature, c, and securedto 4c between a stationary generator and moving' l a block, c', for insulation, located on the hot- 9c car or inotor; hut it has heen found, in conl toni of the casingin which the devices are arstructing' electrical railways on this plan, that ranged and connected to the helix or coil ll thereareanuinherof objectionableeaturesi by a wire, l); and Cv' is a siinilar spring to such as the exposure oi the wire or wires to spring C, having" a contact block or arina- 45 atmospheric influences and the danger aris l ture, r', and secured to the bottoni oi' the cas 95 ingfrom the exposed wire or wires, and the ing' by an insulating-block, c', and coin'iected L liability of arising injury by contact with to the helix or coil Il' by a wire, la. Y

the wires or conductors, and other tea-tures l) is a holt or core 'lorined entirel)v oi' soft' which are well known. iron or .partly of soft iron an d partlT oi brass,

l l l 5o The object of this invention is to overcome with or without a contact brush or block at loo tlie end, as shown in Figs. L and 8, Fig. S showing a sott-iron portion, cl3, and brass portion (Z4, and a brush, dand Fig. et showing a brass portion provided with a contact-wheel, di. This bolt or core `is located at the center of the helix or core i3, and has an axial motion by which it can be projected until the center of the bolt or core is in line with the center of the helix or core crosswise, and this bolt is surrounded by a sleeve, (l, of brass or other material, inclosed in a sleeve, d', of insulating material, around which the helix or coil is wound, and the insulating-sleeve d.

may be'a core of wood prepared in any suitable manner, so as to be a non-comluctor, and also a non-absorbent ot water or moisture, or it can be a sleeve of any suitable insulating material. A corresponding bolt, D', is provided for the helix or coil B, also incased in a Sleeve, d', of insulating material surrounding a sleeve, d', in the same manner as for the bolt D and helix or coil B.

E is a casing made of iron or other suitable material, and having, as shown, a plate, e, on which the helices or coils B B are supported, the said plate having an opening for the passage of the wires Z) b', which connect the respective helices to the respective springs C C', and, as shown, on the bottom ot' the casing in line with the bolts or cores D D' are insulating-blocks e', on which the bolts or cores rest when down.

F is a spring secured at one end to a suitable block or support, F, adjacent to the track-rail and having at its outer or free end a contact-point, and this spring is connected by a wire, f, with the spring C.

G is a spring secured to an insulating-block, f', on the spring F, and having at its i'ree end a contact for engagement with the contactpoint of the spring F, and au insulating-block, h, for engagement with the moving pin, and this spring G is connected by a wire, g, with the spring C.

H is a sliding pin located, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, $3, and 5, in the flange ot' the track-rail and in line with the insulating-block 7L of the spring G, with which block the end of the pin H is in contact. This pin H can bc located in the tread ot' the track-rail, as shown in Fig. 49, in which case the web of the rail can be slotted and the sprin F and G passed through the slot for the pin l-l to rest on the block 71 or the pin can be located in a central rail, as hereinafter described.

I lis the track-rail, which maybe of the construction shown or of any other suitable form,`

V tion, having a tread and a flange, j, which flange, for the arrangement shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, as the car moves along, comes in con tact with the head of the pin H and forces the pin down to make a Contact between` the springs F G. lith the pin arranged as shown in Fig. il, the tread of the wheel will come in contact with the head of the pin H, to force it down and make a contact with the springs F G.

K a car supported by the wheels J, as usual, the wheels being connected by the axle J.

L is a conductor formed, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, ot' a brush ruiming over pulleys l on a shaft, Z, supported in brackets L', depending from the bottom ot the car, a pulley and supportiiig-brackets being provided for each end of the car, and L is a similar brush, also running over pulleys Z on the shaft l. The brush L is arranged to be in line and come in contact with the bolt or core D when projected, and the brush L is located and arranged to be in line for contact with the bolt or core D when projected, as shown in4 Fig. i.

M is a spring or plate secured to a support, m, projecting out from the bracket k, which spring has its free end in contact with the conductor L to receive the current from the conductor, and M is a similar spring, and is secured to the support Im from the bracket k to transmit the current to the brush L from the motor.

N is a motor, which may be of any of the usual and well-known forms, for the propulsion of cars, and this motor is connected by a wire, n, with the spring or plate M, and by a wire, n with the spring or plate M.

O is a driving chain passing around a sprocketwhcel, o, on the shaft J', and a sp rochet-wheel, 0, on the shaft l, which chain drives the shaft Z from the sprocket-wheel 0 through the rotation ot the wheel o from the axle J and through the pulleys Z drives theV brushes or conductors L L in a direction to have the bottoni ot' the conductors run in the opposite direction from the direction ot' travel ot' the car, as indicated by the arrow in Fig.

f P is the platform of the car, from which depend the brackets 7u, which support t-he shaft ofthe drivin ,fg-pulleys of the brush conductors Il IJ.

Q is the dash-board of the car.

R is a central rail parallel with the trackrails, and having therein at-intervals the pins H. lVhen this intermediate rail is used, the track-.rails will not be provided with the slid'- ing pins H, and the contact-springs F and G will be located below the rail or support R, as shown in Fig. lO, instead. ot' adjacent to the track-rail.

S is a wheel supported by a standard, S', from the bottom of the car in such manner as to run over the support or rail R and engage the heads of the pins Hin succession to force each pin down and make a contact for the springs F and G of the respective pins H.

The motor N is to be connected by a suitable train of gear or otherwise to impart rotation to the carrying-wheels of the car, in any usual and well-known manner, and the sliding pins ICO IIO

the car for operating said circuit-closer, sub* Stantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In an electric-railwaysystem,the combination, with the road-bed or track, of a main conductor, helices or coils having electrical connection, bolts or cores through the coils and having an axial movement above the road-bed or track, and a circuit-closer, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an electric-railway system, the combination, with the road-bed or track and a car carrying` a conductor and a motor having electrical connections With the conductors, of a bolt or core adapted to be projected above the road-bed or track, electrical connections for iniiuencing said bolt, and a circuit-closer, the said electrical connections and circuit-closer projecting said bolt and establishing a current through it while the car is passing over it and permitting it to drop and cutting off the current therefrom in its normal position after the car has passed, substantially as described.

6. In an electric-railway system, the combination, with the road-bed or track and a car carrying` a conductor and a motor having electrical connections With said conductor, of a bolt or core adapted to be projected above the road-bed or track, a main lconductor, a circuit-closer acted on by a part of the car, and electrical connections between the bolt andthe circuit-closer and main conductor, substantiallj7 as described, for projecting the bolt and holding it projected and passing a current through it While the caris passing, and cutting off the current and permitting the bolt to drop to its normal position after the car has passed, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the main conductor A, helix or coil B, spring C, and axiallymoving bolt or core D, and Wires c b, of contact-springs F and G, sliding pin H, and connecting-Wire to the spring C, completing a circuit to project the bolt and complete a circuit from the main conductor through the coil and bolt, substantially as and for the purpose speciied.

8. The combination of a main conductor, A, helices or coils B B', springs C C', sliding bolts or cores D D', and connecting-Wires c b b', with the contact-springs F G, sliding pin H, and connecting-wires f g, for closing a circuit and projecting the bolts or cores to forni a circuitfrom the main wire or conductor, substantially as and for the purpose spcciiied.

9. The combination of the wire or conductor A, helix or coil B, spring C, axially-moving bolt or core D, contact-springs F and G, sliding pin H, conductors L, plate M, wire n, motor N, wire n', plate M', conductors L', axial moving bolt or core D, spring C', helix or coil B', and electrical connection between the main conductors, the helices, and the contact-spring, substantially as and for the purpose described.

l0. The combination, with a main conductor and a helix or coil connected therewith, of a bolt or core adapted to project above the road-bed or track, and a connection bet-Ween the bolt or core and its helix or coil for completing the circuit from the main conductor through the bolts or core when the helix is energized, substantially as specified.

JOHN B. BLAIR.

lVitnesses:

ALBERT H. ADAMS, HARRY T. JONES. 

